**Executive Summary**
This document answers Unstarred Question No. 1596 in Lok Sabha on February 9, 2026, regarding the "Promotion and Development of Medical Tourism" in India. It details the government's initiatives and responses to challenges in this sector. The document specifies the roles of State Governments/Union Territories and relevant central bodies, and the actions being taken to facilitate and promote medical tourism.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* Development and promotion of medical tourism are primarily undertaken by respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administrations.
* **National Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes India holistically, including Medical & Wellness tourism.
* A National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism has been formulated and circulated to Central Ministries, State Governments, and Industry Stakeholders.
* **Assessments:**
* The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted any specific assessment regarding popular treatments or impact assessment of medical tourism in the last five years, including the current year.
* **Facilitation Measures:**
* The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) has developed a website (http://www.indiahealthcaretourism.com) providing information on accredited hospitals, wellness centers, visa processes, and healthcare providers.
* The Ministry of Tourism provides a link to this portal on its official websites.
* The Government of India has extended the e-medical visa/e-medical attendant visa facility to facilitate visits for medical treatment.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the development and promotion of medical tourism within their respective regions.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and promote tourist destinations and products, including medical tourism.
**Central Ministries, Industry Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** Involved in the implementation of the National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism.
* **Action Required:** Review the National Strategy and Roadmap and align their activities accordingly.
**Foreign Medical Tourists**
* **Impact:** Benefit from initiatives aimed at improving accessibility, affordability, and post-operative care, along with easier visa processes.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available resources such as the healthcare tourism website and e-medical visa facilities for planning and travel.
Key Entities Referenced
Medical Tourism: The primary subject of the question and answer, encompassing the promotion and development of medical tourism in India.
Ministry of Tourism: The ministry responsible for promoting India as a tourism destination, including medical and wellness tourism.
National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism: A policy document formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to promote the growth of medical and wellness tourism in India.
State Governments/Union Territories: Entities responsible for the development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including medical tourism, within their respective regions.
e-medical visa/e-medical attendant visa facility: A visa program to facilitate the visit of foreign nationals to come to India for medical treatment
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1596
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL TOURISM
1596. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the key initiatives of the Government including
budgetary provisions and targeted programmes to strengthen
India's position as a global medical tourism destination;
(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken to address the
challenges in accessibility, affordability and post-operative care for
foreign medical tourists visiting India;
(c) whether the Government has conducted an assessment regarding
the specific treatments popular in India and planned a dedicated
framework for their development with special focus;
(d) whether the Government has performed any impact assessment of
medical tourism during the last five years and the current year, and
if so, the findings thereof; and
(e) the role of State Governments/Union Territories in promotion and
development of medical tourism in their regions, along with
examples of successful collaborations or models?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and
products, including medical tourism is undertaken by the respective State
Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.
The Ministry of Tourism promotes India in a holistic manner, through
various initiatives. As part of on-going activities, promotion of Medical &
Wellness tourism is also taken up.The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted any assessment
regarding the specific treatments popular in India or impact assessment
of medical tourism during the last five years and the current year.
In order to provide impetus to the growth of Medical and Wellness
tourism in India, Ministry of Tourism formulated a National Strategy and
Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism and circulated to concerned
Central Ministries, State Governments and Industry Stakeholders.
The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) under the Ministry of
Commerce has developed a comprehensive website viz.,
http://www.indiahealthcaretourism.com which provides information on
accredited hospitals and wellness centres, visa, healthcare providers etc.
The Ministry of Tourism has provided a link to this portal on its official
websites.
To facilitate the visit of foreign nationals to come to India for medical
treatment, the Government of India has extended e-medical visa/ e-
medical attendant visa facility.
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